A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Tropical Cyclone Earl made landfall on 4 August, with wind gusts of up to 110 km/h, as estimated by National Hurricane Center of the United States. As of 9am (GMT -6) on 4 August Tropical Cyclone Earl’s centre (Category 1) was located at approximately 189 miles eastsoutheast of Half Moon Caye, 231 miles east-southeast of San Pedro Ambergris Caye, 230 miles east of Dangriga, 236 miles east-southeast of Belize City, 271 miles east-southeast of Corozal Town, and 267 miles east of Punta Gorda Town. The cyclone was moving west at about 14 miles per hour. At its centre the hurricane was estimated to have wind speeds of 70 miles per hour. The Belize National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) urged people to secure their homes, properties, businesses or livestock as Tropical Cyclone Earl approached the country.
Major infrastructure and building damage are reported by NEMO. Roads and streets are blocked in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, and Ladyville, Belize River Valley, Orange Walk, Belmopan and other affected areas. Schools, markets, civil and international flights and ports have been closed, government hospitals are on standby, and electricity and water supply is still affected in several parts of the country.
After the passage of the hurricane, NEMO has prioritized search and rescue, medical care, sheltering and looking after people affected, clearing of debris along the highways, restoration of utilities, inspection of airports and seaports. The Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) resumed operations on 4 August.
The Ministry of Works is clearing the main highways. Highways from Benque to Belize City are open at this time. NEMO is currently responding to flash flooding in the Cayo District. Communities along the Macal and Mopan River must seek higher ground immediately. In addition, NEMO has issued alerts to the population to not stay in buildings near floodwaters and to activate flood plans. Heavy rains and wind persist hampering the initial damage assessments. The government undertook an aerial survey in the afternoon of 4 August.
Up to 4 August, 29 collective centres are open across the country and 907 people have sought shelter in these centres.
Summary of the current response Overview of Host National Society:
In preparation for the hurricane making landfall in Belize, the BRCS headquarters has been in close contact with all eight branches, providing them with situation updates. All BRCS branches are on standby In the northern division, volunteers are supporting the local authorities in the collective centres.
On 4 August, as Hurricane Earl made landfall, BRCS volunteers assisted people to evacuate their houses and move to collective shelters, where first aid was administered by BRCS as required.
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is active in the BRCS headquarters with teams on standby rotating every 12-hour. The National Society’s contingency and disaster management plans have been activated. National Intervention Team (NIT) members, equipment and vehicles are on stand-by and disaster preparedness stocks are ready to be dispatched as soon as needed.
The BRCS has vast experienced responding to disasters. In 2015, it carried out a DREF operation to support the population affected by heavy rains and floods in October.
Movement Coordination
The IFRC’s Disaster & Crisis, Prevention, Response and Recovery Department (DCPRR) has been in initial contact with the BRCS prior to Hurricane Earl’s arrival. The Emergency Shelter officer was deployed to Belize on 3 August to support the National Society. DCPRR is in contact with the deployed team and the National Society. Coordination meetings have been held to inform Movement members. The American Red Cross will support with two delegates to support assessments specialized in risk reduction and assessments.
Coordination with non-RCRC actors in the region The IFRC has been sharing information and coordinating with CDEMA. NEMO is coordinating the National Emergency Operations Centre where government agencies have deployed representatives while sector specific assessments are conducted in the affected areas. The Regional Response Mechanism has been placed on alert to inform on the situation and to coordinate possible regional support.
The IFRC is coordinating as well with PAHO’s Caribbean regional office in Barbados, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID), the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office, the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the World Food Program (WFP). Close coordination will take place with PAHO and national authorities in relation to damage and needs assessments.